HELP ON THE WAY. A US Marines MV-22 Osprey carrying disaster relief items donated by USAID arrives at the Batanes Airport on Tuesday (Oct. 8, 2024). The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the ongoing relief operations by Philippine and United States air units in the typhoon-hit province highlight the longstanding alliance between the two nations and the value of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. (Photo courtesy of the AFP)
MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the ongoing relief operations by Philippine and United States air units in the typhoon-hit Batanes province is a testament to the longstanding alliance between the two nations and the value of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
"In times of natural calamities, the EDCA between the Philippines and the United States improves the capability to respond swiftly by providing strategic access to facilities and resources. This close cooperation enables rapid deployment of personnel and relief aid, ensuring timely response to communities in need, such as those affected by (Super) Typhoon Julian in Batanes," AFP public affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement Tuesday night.
On Tuesday, Philippine and American aircraft delivered much-needed relief supplies to the island.
"Two US Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft transported Foreign Disaster Relief (FDR) supplies, provided by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), from Laoag Airport to Batanes in the morning (Oct. 8)," he said.
Trinidad added that a US Air Force Dornier 328 aircraft also transported additional relief items from Manila to Batanes.
On Sunday, the Philippine Air Force deployed a C-130 aircraft from Villamor Air Base, Pasay City, to deliver vital goods directly to Batanes.
Before the delivery of supplies, the Joint US Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG), in collaboration with USAID, coordinated closely with the AFP, the local government of Batanes, and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).
This partnership ensured efficient logistics and the prompt arrival of assistance to the hardest-hit areas.
"The close cooperation in these relief efforts highlights the enduring strength of the US-Philippines alliance and reinforces the importance of preparedness, coordination, and the robust disaster response framework that both nations have built," Trinidad said.
Signed in 2014, the EDCA provides for Filipino and American soldiers to train together and allows the US to build facilities and preposition supplies, and equipment inside strategically located bases in the country. (PNA)
